In a convention center full of tile and stone, the stand-out products are usually beautiful, technically advanced or a combination of the two — like Natucer's new LifeArq collection. Moving beyond traditional uses of tile (think flooring, kitchens and bathrooms), LifeArq creates room dividers, ceramic screens and two styles of tile siding for wall installation.
NATUCER MUST-SEES:
• Bamboo — stacked cylinders of extruded tile create ceramic columns that are supported by an internal steel structure.
• Channel — ceramic siding! A series of overlapping panels ideal for indoor or outdoor application.
• Ivy — a textural room or space divider also supported by an internal steel structure. Ideal for outdoor settings to create a level of privacy.
• Scale — more ceramic siding! A gently arched overlapping "shingle" of ceramic tile.
MORE INFO: Natucer
Images: Aaron Able
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One of the things I loved about living in Japan was seeing all the interesting exteriors of residential and commercial buildings - very often, even the most mundane buildings are clad in ceramic tile.
There were definitely some interesting dimensional tile and stone products this year. I posted some more photos here: http://behindthescenes.posterous.com/fun-tile-and-stone-at-coverings
bepsf: some of my favorite tile at the show came from Japan — stay tuned!!!